Collapsible storage cabinet



Nov. 2,1943. A. LROSENFELD ETAL 3 v COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE CABINET I Filed Feb. 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,1 1 .1 M \7 I \O 4. .1.1 -1? 4-2 r l3 Ii .Zhlnlnr ABRAHAM L- Roszrmaua CHARLJS VI- A A2- Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE/[I ooemrsmu s jozloucnnmnr H I w c S g- 9 tiu -1. Products, Inc.,. Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation Philadelphia, Pa.

of Delaware application February 28, 1941, serial no.statut-v '3 Claims. (01. 31291 14) This. invention relates to an improved construction of collapsible cabinet for the storage of clothes and the like, it being among the principal objects of the invention to provide aunit which, when erected, serves as a durablecabinet of ample. size and which, when collapsed, forms a compact package oi convenient size readily suitable for storing or shipping.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible storage cabinet formed of a minimum number of foldable parts; said parts being adapted to tie-readily assembled together, without the use of. any special tools or securing devices, to constitutean exceedingly rigid and yet light-weight cabinet A still further and important object of this invention isto provide the several foldable parts of the cabinet wtih permanently secured rein forcing and bracing elements ofsuchdesign and construction as to not only facilitate the assembly of the parts during the erection of the cabinet, but to also serve as means for covering andconcealing the joints between overlapping edges of the several parts of th cabinet assembly, all of such elements serving also asa trim for the cabinet 'v'vi'th certain of them constituting a. rigid fraine Within which is fitted a swingable door by. which access is afforded to the interior of the cabinet. V c

Other objects and advantages of the invention will' appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that it consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as 'Will be described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims. g

In the'said accompanying drawings; which illustrate apreferred construction of cabinet embodying the principlesof the present invention Figure 1 is a front elevational vieW'of the cabinet;

Figure 2- is apl-an view oione'of the blanks forming the top and the bottom'of the cabinet;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional 'vie'w'taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4, is a IlOIiZOIltBzlSQCtl'Gl'IdlJ view take on the line 44 of Figure -1;

Figure 5. is a vertical sectional view taken on the line E5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially at right angles to that of Figdrebi Figure '7 is a perspective view of a frontoor ner. of the cabinetshowing the-several parts thereof, in separatedr'elation; 1

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion inscribed within the dotted circle of Fig ure 5;

Figure 9 is a corresponding enlarged'sectiorial view of the portion inscril oed the dotted circle of Figure 6 Figure I0" is a plan view of the external surface of the flatblank iormingthe sides and back of the cabinet; and

Figure 11 is a view showing the blank of'-Fig' me 1 0 folded into a compact unit Referring now to the drawings, it will" be ole-- served-V that the cabinet as constructed in aecordance with the present: invention consists of only four main parts, namely, a top-iorming part [9, a bottom-forming part 'H, aback and side wall-forming part I 2 and a front door part 1 3. The top and bottom-forming part I if and H are substantially identical inconst'ruction and. are each formed of a single blank of material cut and scored. as shown more particularly in Figure 2. The blank shown in Figure 2' is the topforming part H) or the cabinet and is of gen-- erally square form and is provided along eachedge thereof with laterally extending flanges or flaps M, l5, l6 and H the blank being scored along the lines t8, I19 20 and 2! so as to permit the flanges M to I! to be freely bentat right angles to the plane of the central-main body portion. of the blank. The flap IBis additionally scored along the line 22 to permit it to be folded upon itself for a. purpose more clearly-appearing hereinafter, r

As clearly appears'in Figure 2-, the outer free edge of the frontal flap ll of the blank H! is of a length substantially equal to the overall width of the expanded blanlr lo, the opposite ends of said frontal flap l-l being cut away, as at-2323', to provide a pairlof opposed freely projecting tabs 24--24 of substantially triangular -shape,-these tabs being adapted to be bent at right'angle to theplane of the flap ll along the score'lin'es 2525. The adjacent ends of the side flaps M and [5 are also each cut out, as $26-25, to provide tapered frontal edges for the said flaps M and i5, overlying the outer free edge of the main portion of the frontal flap IT and secured permanently to the latter in any suitable manner is a strip 21 of woodor other relatively tiff material, the inner surface of which is mortised ad-- v iacent either end thereof, as-at 28. Anaperture 29 extends transversely through each of the mortisedparts ofthe strip 2-1. The outer portion of the rear flap 16"ofthe blank F0 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced' slits "3'0 through each of which is adapted to be projected a fastening element, preferably of the type having an enlarged head and separable legs, the fasteners being projected through the slits 3|] in the flap IS in such manner that the heads thereof may be embraced between the inner and outer portions of the flap l6 when the same is folded upon itself along the score line 22.

While the blank ||l shown in Figure 2 may be formed of any suitably stifi material, it is preferably formed of multi-ply corrugated board such as is commonly employed in the manufacture of corrugated paper containers. The blank of which the bottom ll of the cabinet is formed is substantially identical with that shown in Figure 2' and just described.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the blank ll of which the back and opposite side walls of the cabinet are formed, it being noted that this blank I2 is of generally rectangular form and scored along the lines 3|, 32, 33 and 34 to provide a series of panels 35, 36 and 37. The panel 36 constitutes the back wall of th cabinet while the panels 35 and 31 respectively constitute opposite side walls thereof,,the side wall panels, 35 and 3'! being adapted to be bent respectively along the vertical score lines 32 and 33 at right angles to the back wall panel 35 and into substantial parallelism with each other. Provided at opposite sides of the blank I2 are a pair of vertically extending flaps 38 and 39, each of which is adapted to be bent at right angles to its adjoining panel along score lines 3| and 34. These flaps 38 and 39 form the vertically extending frontal parts of the cabinet and define a frontal opening for the cabinet between the free vertical edges thereof. 7

As clearly appears in Figure 10, the blank |2 has permanently secured thereto a plurality of strips of wood or the like respectively designated 45, 4|, 42, 43, 44 and145. The strips 42 and 43 are respectively secured adjacent the top and bottom edges of the panel 35 of the blank, while the strips 44 and 45 are similarly secured adjacent the top and bottom edges of the panel 31. The strips 40 and 4| are respectively secured to the marginal edges of the opposed end flaps 38 and 39, the upper and lower ends of each of the vertically extending strips 40 and 4| being tenoned, as at 46. Each of the upper horizontally extending strips 42 and 44 are rabbetted along its upper edge to provide a longitudinally extending groove 41 between the strip and the panel to which it is secured, while each of the lower horizontally extending strips 43 and 45 areecorrespondingly rabbetted along their bottom edges to provide a longitudinally extending groove 48., As in the case of the top and bottom parts I0 and II, the blank |2is formed of any suitably stiff material such as corrugated paper board.

To erect the cabinet, the blank I2Jis' folded along its vertical score 3|, 32, 33 -and;34 so as to present the panels 35 and 31 thereof. at right angles to the central panel 36, the flaps 38 and 39 being respectively inturned about-the score lines 3| and 34 so that they lie in a common plane paralleling the back wall 36 of the cabinet. It will be understood, of course, that in erecting the cabinet, the blank l2 thereof isfolded in such manner that the Wood strips 4|'| to 45 thereof are disposed exteriorlyrof the cabinet. Having initially set up the blank I2 in the manner just described, the top member Iii may then be secured thereto. This is most convenientlyeffectedby securing the outer portion of the flap l6 ofthe,

blank II) to the back wall panel 36 of the blank by means of pronged fastener elements 49 which are projected through the slits 30 in the flap N5 of the blank l0 and registering slits in the back wall panel 36. The top cover panel I0 is then swung upwardly about the scored lin 22 thereof as a hinge and then forwardly about the scored line I9 so that the central main body portion thereof is disposed in a horizontal plane extending across the top of the vertically erected blank l2. The opposite flaps I4 and I5 are then downwardly turned so that the longitudinally extending free edges thereof may be inserted into the longitudinally extending grooves 41 provided at either side of the cabinet adjacent the top edge thereof. At the same time, the frontal flap ll of the top cover blank I 0 is folded downwardly about the scored line 2|, while the opposite triangularly shaped tabs 24 thereof are rearwardly turned along the scored lines 25. The lower edges of these tabs are thus received within the grooves 41, and at the same tim the tenon portions 45 of the vertically extending strips respectively engage the mortised portions 28 of the horizontally extending strip 2'! of the top cover member. As most clearly appears in Figure 7, the tenon 46 i provided with an aperture 50 which is in registry with the aperture 29 of the mortise 28 so that when the mortise-and-tenon joint between the members 40 and 2'! is completed, a securing bolt 5| may be projected through the registering apertures 29 and 50 tov lock the jointed members together. The same procedure is followed to lock the complementally shaped, interfitting parts together at each front corner of the cabinet, both at the top and at thebottom thereof, it being, of course, understood that the bottom member is secured to the vertically extending part of the cabinet in exactly the same manner as is the top member m.

It will be noted that when the several parts of the cabinet are assembled in the manner ust described, a rigid self-sustaining structure is obtamed, it being further noted that when so erected the side strips 42 and 44 and the front strip 27 are disposed in a common horizontal plane and extend continuously about the sides and front of the cabinet. Similarly, the side strips 43 and 45 adjacent the bottom of the cabinet are disposed in' a common horizontal plate with the front strip ll of the bottom member II, and extend continuously about the sides and front of the cabinet adjacent the bottom edge thereof. The vertical strips or rails 4E|4| are disposed ina common vertical plane and are spaced laterally apart so as to form conjointly with the upper and lower horizontally extending front rails 27 a rectangularly shaped opening within'which may be fitted the front door I3, this door being hinged, as at 52-52, to the vertically' xtending rail 40. The opposite free edge of the door is preferably, provided with a suitable handle-actuated catch 54 adapted for engagement with a suitable keeper 55 secured to the vertically extending rail; {H. If desired, thecabinet may be fitted within its interior with a horizontally extending bar 53 from which clothes hangers or the like may be suspended, it being noted in this connection that the supporting brackets 54-54 for said bar are firmly secured in position by means of screws driven into the wood side strips 42-44.

As appears most clearlyin Figure 7, an important feature of thecabinet as constructed in accordance with the present invention is that the longitudinally extending grooves 41-41 extending along each side of the cabinet receive and conceal from view the free terminal edges of the flaps l4 and I5 of the top closure member HI, the same arrangement being provided at the bottom of the cabinet for receiving and concealing from view the terminal edges of the side flaps of the bottom member I I. When the upper and lower horizontally extending rails Z'L-Z'l and the vertically extending rails 40 and 4| are secured together by the four bolts 5|, the several parts of the cabinet are positively locked together to provide an exceedingly rigid structure, it being noted that when these parts are so interlocked the side flaps l4 and I5 and the triangularly shaped tabs 24-24 of both the top and bottom members In and I I are securely locked in position.

In order to facilitate shipping and storing of the cabinet in knock-down condition, the rear wall panel 38 of the unit I2 is provided with a vertically extending score 56 (see Figures and 11) which is disposed midway between the score lines 32 and 33, the score 56 being of such character as to permit the panel 56 to be folded upon itself as shown in Figure 11 and thereby permit the side panels 35 and 31 to be pressed closely together into substantially parallel relation. The unit I 2 may thus be very compactly folded, as shown in Figure 11, and may be packaged with the blanks respectively forming the top and bottom of the cabinet and with the door assembly [3 to provide a substantially flat, compact package which may be conveniently handled for storage and shipment. If desired, the door unit l3 may be hinged to the front rail 40 of the cabinet after the same has been erected as hereinbefore described or, the door may be hinged to said rail 40 to form a part of the unit I2 prior to erection of the latter. In this latter event, the door l3, as part of the unit I2, would be swung into position paralleling the compacted panels 35 and 31 when the unit I2 is collapsed for shipping and storage purposes, substantially in the manner shown in Figure 11.

It will be understood, of course, that the invention is susceptible of various other changes and modifications that may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles thereof and it is, accordingly, intended to claim the same broadly, as Well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a collapsible cabinet of the character described, a member having a plurality of angularly related panels constituting, the opposite side and back walls of the cabinet, said member being fur ther provided with a pair of relatively narrow panels disposed in the front vertical plane of the cabinet and defining therebetween a front door opening, separate members respectively constituting the top and bottom of said cabinet, each of said last-mentioned members being provided with marginal flanges folded at right-angles to the main body of said member to provide a lid-like cover unit into which one end of the erected intermediate unit is snugly fitted, the front flange of each of said top and bottom members being provided at opposite ends thereof with rearwardly turned tabs, rabbetted members secured to the opposite side walls of the cabinet to form therewith grooves in which are accommodated the side flanges and rearwardly turned tabs of the said top and bottom members, and means respectively secured to the free marginal edges of the frontal flanges of the said top and bottom members and the marginal edges of the vertically ex tending panels between which is defined said door openingfor rigidifying the front of said cabinet and for providing therein a rigid rectangular frame within which a door may be fitted to close said opening.

2. In a cabinet construction of the character described, a main member having a plurality of angularly related panels constituting the vertically extending opposite side and back walls of the cabinet, and a member secured to an end of said first-mentioned member to provide an end closure for the cabinet, said end closure member having a plurality of flanges respectively adapted to marginally embrace the vertically extending walls of the cabinet, and rabbetted members secured to opposite sidewalls of the cabinet to provide conjointly therewith longitudinally extending grooves for respectively accommodating and securing in position the free edges of the side flaps of the end closure member, said end closure member being further characterized in that the frontal flange thereof is provided at the opposite ends thereof with rearwardly turned tabs also accommodated within the grooves aforesaid.

3. In a cabinet construction of the character described, a main member having a plurality of angularly related panels constituting the vertically extending opposite side and back walls of the cabinet, said member including a pair of relatively narrow panels extending vertically along the frontal edges of said side walls andbent at right angles thereto to provide laterally spaced front wall sections of the cabinet, a member secured to an end of said first-mentioned member to provide an end closure for the cabinet, said end closure member being pre-cut and scored and folded to provide a plurality of flanges which respectively marginally embrace the vertically extending walls of the cabinet and rabbetted members secured to opposite side walls of the cabinet to provide conjointly therewith longitudinally extending grooves for respectively accommodating and securing in position the free edges of the side flanges of the end closure member, said end closure member being further characterized in that the frontal flange thereof is provided at the opposite ends thereof with tabs rearwardly turned and accommodated within the grooves aforesaid, and a plurality of rails respectively secured to the marginal edges of the frontal flange of the end closure member and the vertically extending frontal panels of the vertically erected member to provide therebetween a rigid door-opening frame in the front wall of the cabinet.

ABRAHAM L. ROSENFELD. CHARLES W. APGAR. 

